Suzette Martinez Standring: A public faith probing

Friday

Aug 29, 2008 at 12:01 AMAug 29, 2008 at 8:15 PM

During the recent presidential nomination campaign, the Christian-based Saddleback Civil Forum posed questions rarely asked of candidates. What does being a follower of Jesus Christ mean to you? What is America’s greatest moral failing? Does evil exist in the world and how should it be erased?

On Aug. 16, Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain endured a faith probing from Pastor Rick Warren of the 20,000-member Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.

Some may find such fare had to swallow, railing against these issues as irrelevant in a political arena, but no aspect of a candidate’s character should be off-limits. Since both men state that their Christian faith is a major part of their lives, its personal application shines a light into their character, style and potential leadership qualities.

In introducing the forum, Warren said, “We believe in the separation of church and state, but we do not believe in the separation of faith and politics because faith is just a worldview and everyone has some kind of world view. It’s important to know what they are.”

Non-viewers might assume the forum was simply a contest of Biblical familiarity. It was not. Specifics were asked about abortion, national security, same-sex marriage, education and stem cell research.

Questions included, “What Supreme Court Justice would you not have appointed and why?” “Who are you going to rely on heavily in your administration?” “Define rich (for taxation purposes).”

But most interesting to me were the questions with regard to acting against one’s self interests for the greater good and along those lines, “What was the most gut-wrenching decision you ever made?”

Obama said, “When I opposed the initial decision to go into war in Iraq.”

As a state senator for Illinois, he had just begun his campaign for a seat on the U.S. Senate and he was cautioned about the unpopularity of his position. President Bush’s ratings were very high at the time, and advisers felt Obama could lose the senate race by voting against the war. But Obama felt the evidence of weapons of mass destruction was not convincing and therefore voted against the war because he believed it was the right thing to do.

For McCain, his most gut wrenching decision was declining a chance at early release as a POW in North Vietnam, an opportunity that was brought about by his father, a high-ranking admiral. But prisoners were to be released according to date of capture, and another soldier had been there two years longer than McCain. So he turned it down, even though he faced indefinite confinement and torture.

Given their answers, both men acted heroically. Voters can feel a measure of comfort in knowing each was seriously tested and prevailed.

I had two observations.

The first was that I’d never heard a list of such thought-provoking, revealing, personal-nature questions as posed by Warren.

The second was that I rarely ask myself such thought-provoking, revealing, personal-nature questions.

As to heroic decisions, sure, sure, like everyone, I’ve made sacrifices, some of them pretty hefty, on behalf of my loved ones. But I had to scratch my head, wondering what I’d do if faced with the probability of an abysmal outcome, or taking a widely unpopular position publicly, or if I could ever flat-out put my career or life in danger because the right action was required.

Following through on faith is a daily testing for all and a run for the presidency isn’t required.

And what a universal challenge it is to put others ahead of one’s self, especially when every worldly message is that the best decision is the one that serves your own interests best.

There’s a reason Matthew 7:14 reads, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

According to surveys, a majority of Americans claim to believe in God and so the Saddleback Civil Forum offered a window into how personal spirituality might be applied in a candidate’s approach to leading a free nation.

What is your greatest moral failing?

What’s worth dying for?

What is your most significant position change from 10 years ago?

Rarely are political candidates asked such questions because they fear the possible danger and embarrassment of their answers.

Just like us.

To see the Saddleback Civil Forum, visit: www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/16/warren.forum/